Ballast Water Management System Authorized to Discharge to California Waters

System recognized as promising technology to battle unwanted migration of aquatic nuisance species

The S/R American Progress, a double-hull U.S. flag tank ship, operated by SeaRiver Maritime Inc. and fitted with the BALPURE ballast water management system from Severn Trent De Nora, is authorized to discharge treated ballast water into the waters of California.

Authorization was granted by the California State Lands Commission in accordance with California Public Resources Code Section 71204.3(d), which authorizes vessels to manage their ballast water using alternative, environmentally sound methods of ballast water management that have been approved by the Commission or the United States Coast Guard (USCG). Acceptance of the S/R American Progress into the USCG Shipboard Technology Evaluation Program (STEP) is evidence of SeaRiver Maritime Inc.’s proactive approach to preventing the introduction of non-indigenous species via ballast water discharge.

The S/R American Progress may continue to discharge treated ballast water with the BALPURE system into California waters as long as the vessel remains in the USCG STEP and operates in accordance with the specific conditions of STEP. The California State Lands Commission also considers the vessel to be in compliance with the state’s performance standards for a period not to exceed five years from the date that the interim performance standards are implemented for this vessel class on Jan. 1, 2016.

BALPURE is a patented ballast water management system that generates biocides, meters and analyzes the residual level of both biocides and neutralizing agents and logs the performance of the overall system. According to the company, the system exceeds IMO performance standards for ballast water management and is proven as an effective and economical device to treat ballast water, with no adverse effects on the environment.

The system features a modular design, which is ideal for retrofit or new build installations where the configuration of the vessel is fixed. Basic approval of the BALPURE system was granted under the “procedure for approval of ballast water management systems that make use of active substances (G9)” adopted by the International Maritime Organization’s Marine Environment Protection Committee’s resolution MEPC.169(57).

The Water and Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association (WWEMA) claims the approach being taken...

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